Question about taking Klonopin?

I used to be taking 1mg bid klonopin, once when I woke up, once before bed, worked great. I got off it for a while and moved home from out of state and my doc here put me on 0.5mg bid prn. I'm really trying to be as conservative as possible with this as I don't want to develop a dependency but it helps a lot with preventing my panic and helps with my anxious tics. I usually take 0.25 to 0.5 maybe twice a week but today was really bad and had to take two at separate times. Should I be worried about this? I don't want to take it unless I absolutely have to. I think taking it for sleep is a poor reason but my anxiety/panic peaks at bedtime so for me this is hard to avoid. Thanks for the suggestions

Responses (9)

If I understand you I would offer you this; Stick to the Dr's instructions and if you feel a variance is due, it is best to consult with him/her. It is awesome your integrity is such that it causes such an inner debate, but in all truth I say the prescribing Dr can offer solutions that will address both the illness and the cure. Best to you, hope this helps.

Hi there cwake! I'm glad your seeking answers. That's a great thing to do. I really don't think you'll have any problems taking the increased dosage. Of course, I'm not a Dr. so talk to him/her before you take my advice. The reason I say this is because, (I must be a real nut case because I take 4 mg of Klonopin a day.) but I do the same thing as you do. When I'm having anxiety/panic attacks I take more . I take my med as prescribed most of the time (I don't take anymore than I'm suppose to.) Panic attacks are awful. I get them if I have to go somewhere I don't want to. Also, regarding anxiety, man, that's bad. I feel like I can't stand still. Ick! I hate that feeling. Don't you? Yeah, I agree. Anxiety seems to get worse at bedtime. Hey, cwake, I think you ought to talk to your Doctor. Maybe you need to have your dose increased. I started out with two mg and my psychiatrist slowly, over time, increased it to 4. God bless you. Anna

Hi thanks for the reply. Question. When do you reach the point where you say "ok, I need to take one now." with my doc's as needed instructions, it is so hard to decide when I need to take one because I almost feel like that since "I could make it through this anxiety like I did before klonopin" that taking it is just bad. I feel guilty I guess you could say. Indeed I take it when anxiety is worse or panic comes around bedtime, but in the past when I take a benzo at bedtime, it kills my natural ability to fall asleep and I want to really take it sparingly I guess. I'm on a fence I don't really know cuz it's like damned if I do, damned if I don't. :(

There are other medications that work for anxiety. If you had some help with it, maybe you wouldn't need the klonopin as much. Have you ever taken buspar? It doesn't cause dependence, and is not a controlled med. You take it every day.

Hello cwake19. Welcome to the forum. Klonopin is a long lasting benzodiazepine. Used for GAD. A Xanax ot Ativan (fast acting) work best for panic attacks/high stressfull moments. Second, you might be better off taking a benzodiazepine created for sleeping only, such as a Dalmane. You will sleep. Down side is upon awakening "drug hangover" but once on the medication for a time, this almost always eases up. Best of wishes to you, pledge

That's a good suggestion Pledge. I have taken xanax for years at bedtime to get me to sleep. No aniexty, just can't shut down my mind. I may ask my doctor about one of these medications too. How about a good hot cuppa this morning? Have a great day... Mary

AN

Anonymous24 Aug 2012

Thanks Mary. I would do so. Dalmane worked wonders for me. The problem, my body built up a tolerance and had to stop taking it. And yes, a cuppa certainly would hit the spot and appreciated. I'll bring a few bagels this morning and fresh out the oven rolls! Have a great day now.

Klonopin is typical not a prn drug. Just take the directions on the bottle and if it is a prn use it when you need it. Your not taking enough to worrie and your on a low dose. Xanax is another drug you could look in to or discuss to your doctor.

Thanks for all of the comments. Well, I see my doctor every 3 months so he just gives me refills and sends me on my way, which is fine as long as I know what I'm doing. I've been on and off the meds for a couple years so generally, I don't need monthly consultations with him anymore and he knows this. Ativan for some reason has no effect on me. I tried it again and again and nothing. Xanax is totally not an option. I was on it earlier this year and the end of 2011 for about 4-5 months and became totally dependent due to its short half life and side effects. I would take it for one of my instances of tics of chest pain anxiety, or nighttime anxiety, then would wake up with even worse rebound anxiety, just from one pill!

Being on xanax was a nightmare my doctor had me on 1mg tid and xanax XR 0.5mg bid. And that still wasn't enough. My tolerance for that medication grew so rapidly because of it lasting a short time and I had to take it so frequently for proper relief. It was a bit too strong for me.

As for following the instructions on the bottle, "TAKE 1 TABLET TWICE DAILY AS NEEDED," so it's bid prn. This means, hey take one if you have to, take two if you have to, take none if you have to! which leaves me in limbo. The more often I take it, the more often I feel that I need to, which is incorrect. It's not good for "as needed" for panic attacks, I agree. But my episodes are more of extreme anxiety, tics, and chest pain, which the klonopin kicks off in about 30 minutes so it works for me.

My point here is that if I'm taking the 0.5mg twice a day, it's going to become less and less effective and I'm afraid of dependence. I just don't know if there's a good way to take it or not take it and be safe. I hear of people on the same dose for years and never having to go up.

my name is , I am new 2 this site!!I think first of all u should be proud of yourself for not abusing this med, as it has a long half life like suboxone, and if u ever decide u want to get off u will definitely need to taper! I myself am on klonopin 1mg/3xdaily, I have tried them all since I have a panic disorder and other mh issues..Now that I am on subs it's like I want 2 do everything in moderation, like they say less is more!!Only as needed like u! For yrs. I was taking them m/n/n... I just got sick of feeling sluggish all the time... Yes most definitely u do build a tolerance with this med as well as xanax, and ativan, so now what I am doing is what u are doing taking only when I really need them and just keeping the others in a bottle in case of emergencies..I want to make my tolerance from klonopin go down so I can get on a lower dosage, at one point I was on 6mg a day after my sister passing on my couch when she came to see me in 2010, I was devestated so the psych. Raised it 2 6mg, cause I was a wreck, so if u at times need a little bit more don't be hard on yourself, your not abusing them, you are not doing it every single day! Also, I feel if you are having most of your panic towards bedtime, there is no reason why u can't take 1 to calm u down, doesn't matter m/n/n it's when u are feeling panic/overwhelmed and can't calm down, I truly don't believe your taking it as a sleep aid as u said your panic peaks then, that's my opinion!!Secondly, I was on xanax I will never ask for them again, they only work for like 4-6 hrs and if you need more well you get my drift, even though they act very quickly in my opinion the klonopin are better cause they stay in your system 8hrs, so if u are prescribed them 3x daily..That's it!!With the xanax I would take them and when they wore off, I felt more anxious and felt like I needed 2 take another cause I was a gittery etc..Wound up taking more then I was suppose to cause of the way I was feeling and the tolerance thing, I had to get off the withdrawals from any benzo are horrible especially xanax, cause I tried to go off klonopin before tapered no problem, did the same with xanax and wanted to literally kill myself!!! I think the way u are doing it is just fine, u are only taking when needed, so I think u will be fine, there is nothing wrong if u have one really bad night to where u have to take and extra that is what u where prescribed, and u don't take them everyday from what u said so in my opinion I think u should stay on the klonopin, but that of course is your choice, but please stay away from the xanax, been there done that you don't want them trust me!!Hope this helps a little hope u feel better, my prayers are with u

Here's my take on it. Everybody is obviously different, because you have recieved very different answers. Yes you are on a low dose. And of course you need to talk to your doctor before increasing it. You definately appear that you would do that anyways. People who do not have severe anxiety and panick attacks do not know what it's like. Just like a person who isn't an alcoholic doesn't have a clue what being an alcoholic is like. I have severe anxiety and panick attacks if I don't take my Klonopin. I went through a horrific ordeal with one of my sons a little over two yrs ago. He tried to commit suicide while in jail. He shouldn't have even went. I had a nervous breakdown. I was on two mg on Klonopin three times a day. After I got a little better, I realized this was a pretty high dose and I wanted to go down and see if I could manage. I went from 2mg three times daily to 1mg three times daily. Some might think that is even too much. I don't care. Their not in my body. They don't have the anxiety and panick when they try to get off of it. One day I will, but not while there is everything going on in my life right now. And I have tried to find other ways to cope. Nice try, but didn't work for me. Neither did the Buspar. Well for me. It appears to me that you are worrying way too much about this. Really. There's nothing wrong with that actually. That's a good thing in a way, but don't go overboard or you'll drive yourself crazy. If you need the Klonopin... Take It. Have a heart to heart with you're doctor. Tell him what you're experiencing. Be honest with him. He will know what to do. He will help you. No, you are not wrong in any way, in my opinion. Not at all. You're having major anxiety and it needs to be treated. Period. And I wouldn't wait around before talking to you're doctor. Medicine isn't always the answer. But I had an aunt who was super religous and didn't take a pill period. And she even told me once. It's wrong to take medicine if you don't need it. But it's just as wrong to not take it when you do need it. Interesting advice. Good luck, and the very best of wishes to you, my friend. Please take care, and go see you're doctor. Have a blessed day. Ruthie